BMTC crew beaten up for asking man to buy a ticket

A BMTC conductor and driver who forced a passenger out of the bus when he refused to alight at his stop, were assaulted by the passenger and two of his associates.

On August 29, around 4.45 pm, a passenger boarded the BMTC bus (route no. 507/4) at Hegdenagar. The bus was plying from K R Puram to Yelahanka.

The passenger bought a ticket to Maruthinagar but did not alight when the stop arrived. When conductor Gopi Shankar (36) asked him to alight, the passenger said he wanted to get off at the next stop at Kogilu Cross.

When Shankar asked him to buy a ticket for Rs 5, the passenger refused and said he wanted to alight at just the next stop.

When Shankar said his ticket was valid only till Maruthinagar, heated arguments ensued, after which driver Shanthappa (35) also joined in. The bus crew managed to
push the passenger out of the bus.

When the bus was returning from Yelahanka to K R Puram, the passenger and his two associates were waiting on a bike at the Brick Factory stop near Jakkur.

When the bus reached the stop, the trio assaulted Shankar and Shanthappa abusing them for forcing him out of the bus. While a few passengers tried to help the injured crew, the trio sped away on their bike.

The bus crew informed their depot manager and headed to Sampigehalli police station and lodged a complaint after getting first aid.

The police have registered a case against the unidentified passenger and his associates.

In another incident, a 56-year-old BMTC driver was beaten up in a road rage case at the busy Hudson Circle near Halasuru Gate police station on September 1
evening.

The victim, Rangegowda, was driving a Volvo bus from Kadugodi towards Majestic bus stand and turning towards the Kempegowda Road when two men in a car intercepted the bus.

The duo got down and began hurling abuses at the driver alleging he was driving recklessly.

Before Rangegowda could realise what was happening, the duo dragged him out of the bus and began to kick him and rained blows on him.

Commuters and passers-by rushed to the driver’s
help and tried to pacify the duo.

But by then, Rangegowda had sustained cuts on his left eye and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

He later filed a complaint with the Halasuru Gate police against the accused identified as Srikanth and Mukesh on Sunday.

Based on his complaint, the police registered a case and have booked the duo for assault or criminal force deterring public servant from discharging his duty.